KOZHIKODE: Goodbye to the musical chair in the District Medical Office in Kozhikode. Dr Asha Devi has taken charge as DMO of Kozhikode after the government issued a fresh order on Tuesday. The current DMO Dr N Rajendran has been directed by the health department to join the Thiruvananthapuram health department directorate as additional director. The health department has also decided to continue with the transfer order issued on December 9.

Dr Asha Devi who came to the office on Monday morning was received by a nonchalant Rajendran who cared not to move from the DMO chair. Asha Devi had to wait till four in the evening for Rajendran to finally get up from the seat. Following this, the Health Department issued an order. According to the health department's order, the tribunal has not stayed the transfer order of the health department and the tribunal's direction is to issue a new transfer order within one month after hearing the complainants. Failure to comply with the transfer order will be dealt with seriously, the order said.

The whole puzzle started following the transfer order issued by the health department on December 9th. Kozhikode DMO Dr Rajendran was transferred as Additional Director in the Directorate of Health Department while Ernakulam DMO Dr Asha Devi was given duty as Kozhikode DMO. Dr. Asha Devi took charge as DMO on December 10. That same day Dr. Rajendran resigned. On December 12, Dr. Rajendran, who obtained a stay on the transfer order from the Administrative Tribunal, returned to Kozhikode as DMO.

After the Administrative Tribunal lifted the stay, Dr. Asha Devi came back to the office to take charge on Monday, but Dr. Rajendran refused to give her seat. For more than three hours, Asha Devi and Rajendran stayed inside the same cabin, elevating the drama. Asha Devi soon came out of the room and told the media that she would abide by the government order and not back out.

On Tuesday, both the DMO arrived at the office and the drama reached its crescendo after Rajendran yet again occupied the DMO seat. Asha Devi remained in the same cabin for hours before the relief came in the form of a fresh government order.